Fire-escape door.



L. R. LOUGHBOROUGH.

FIRE ESCAPE DOOR. APPLIOATIONYIILED mm: 11, 1908.

Patented Nov. 1,1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

L. R. LOUGHBOROUGH. FIRE ESCAPE DOOR.

APPLICATION mun JUNE 11, 1908.

Patented Nov. 1, 1910.

z sums-sum. 2.

' UNITE LEROY R. LOUGI-IBOROUGH, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

FIRE-ESCAPE DOOR.

Specification of Letters I'atent.

Patented Nov. 1, 1910.

Application filed June 11, 1908. Serial No. 437,828.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEROY R. LOUGHBOR- OUGH, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residin at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and tate of NewYork, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fire-Escape Doors,of which the following is a specification.

.This invention. relates to an emergency exit or fire-escape doorintended more especially for schools, theaters and other buildings inwhich persons assemble in large numbers. Its chief object is theprovision of a door which ordinarily cannot be opened or unlocked fromthe outside, but whichcan be unlocked and opened by a comparativelyslight ressure against theinside thereof, thus a ording a certain andreliable means of escape ..from the building in case of fire or panic.

Further objects of the invention are to provide an inexpensive door ofthis char acter which has no key-lock, which is free from complicatedand confusing unlocking devices, and which, when opened, leaves thepassageway free from obstructions liable to catch the clothing or retardexit through it.

In the accompanying drawings consisting of 2 sheets: Figure 1 is a frontelevation of a pair of doors equipped with the invention. Fig. 2 is ahorizontal section, on an enlarged scale, in line 2--2, Fig. 1, showingthe doors locked. Fig. 3 is a similar section showin the inner doors orbraces deflected to the position in which they release the main or outerdoors. Fig. 4: is a similar section, showing the doors fully opened.Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the doors. Fig. 6 isa vertical section in line 6-6, Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectionin line 77, Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a vertical section in line 8-8, Fig. 1.Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the filling strips.Fig. 10 is a perspective view of one of the brackets'to which the innerdoors are hinged.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views.

A indicates the door-case or frame and B, B a pair of main or outerdoors of ordinary construction hinged to swing outward, as shown at 6.These doors have no key-locks or looking bolts, but may have thecustomary outside-knobs 0. Each of these doors is provided on its innerside with a brace D, preferably in the form of an auxiliary or innerdoor of about the same dimensions as the corresponding outer door. Theseinner doors are capable of swin ing toward and from the outer doors, anin the construction shown in the drawings, are hinged at their outeredges to inward extensions or brackets E secured to the inner sides ofthe outer doors adjacent to their hinged edges. In the normal positionof the inner doors, they stand in line with each other and their freeinner edges meet or abut like those of the outer doors and are arran edsubstantially in line with the meeting e ges of the latter. The inwardmovement of the inner doors beyond that osition is limited by anysuitable means. Flexible connections, such as chains f located near themeeting ed es of the doors are preferably employed for this purpose, asshown;

The inner and outer doors are spaced a suitable distance apart to permitthe inner doors to be deflected or swung outward out of line with eachother, for unlocking the doors, as shown in Fig. 3. It is desirable toclose the space between the hinged edges of the inner and outer doors,and this is preferably done by means of vertical filling strips Grextending throughout the height of the doors and suitably securedthereto. In the preferred construction shown in the drawings, thesefilling strips abut against the inner sides of the outer doors and areprovided with recesses 72. which receive the adjacent portions of thebrackets, so that their faces are substantially flush With the fillingstrips. The strips are not entirely cut away within these recesses, butreduced vertical webs 71. are left in their inner portions which fitinto vertical slits or grooves if formed in the brackets, as best shownin Fig. 7. The upper and lower edges of these recesses are formed withtongues 72. which interlock with horizontal grooves h formed in theupper and lower edges of the brackets, as seen in Fig. 6.

A spring I is interposed between the inner and outer door of each set toresist the outward movement of the inner doors by a blow against theoutside of the outer doors in an attem t to displace or deflect theinner doors out of their locking position. In their preferred form,these springs are spiral and secured at their ends tothe opposing sidesof the corresponding inner and outer doors, respectively. These springsare under tension when the doors are closed, and in order to have aconstant tendency to swing the inner doors inwardly or toward theirlocking position, their points of attachment to the inner doors are onthe front sides of straight lines passing through their points ofattachment to the outer doors and the hinge-pintles of the inner doors,as shown in 'Fig. 2. the door-frame is shouldered, as shown at y', tolimit the inward movement of the outer doors, and the inner doors areshort enough to clear said shoulder.

When the doors are closed, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the inner doors orbraces D stand in line with each other and substan tially parallel withthe closed outer doors and abut against each other. It is evident thatin this position they effectually resist opening of the outer doors fromthe outside of the building, inasmuch as the brackets E which carry theinner doors must be free to move toward the meeting edges of the doorsin order to permit the main or outer doors to swing outward on theirhinges, but such movement is obviously blocked by the abutting innerdoors, which practically form a toggle-like brace extending across thetwo outer doors. While the doors thus cannot be opened by a pull orotherwise from the outside, a comparatively slight outward pressureagainst the inner doors will deflect them out of line with each other,as shown in Fig. 8, thus unlocking the outer doors, which are thrownopen by the continued pressure against the inner doors which strike theouter doors. It is therefore practically impossible for the doors tofail to open when pressure is exerted outward against them from theinside of the building permitting a speedy and unobstructed exit of theoccupants ofthe building in case of a fire or other emergency.

The inner doors are free from knobs, levers or other parts liable toconfuse persons seeking to escape, or to catch the clothing, and whenthe doors are open, the passageway is clear and free from obstructionsof any kind.

Although the same result would obviously be attained if the inner doorsor braces were smaller or extended across only a portion of the outerdoors, yet it is desirable to extend them from the bottom upward aconsiderable distance, so as to present a large surface against whichpressure may be exerted at any point throughout its height, to unlockand open the doors.

The doors are closed like ordinary hinged doors, and in order to enablethem to be conveniently closed from the inside of the building, theinner doors may be provided with folding or disappearing handles or Asshown in Fig; 8, the sill of' any attempt to jar them into theirunlocked position by a blow against the outer doors.

In opening the doors, it is desirable that I the inner doors should bedeflected or unlocked before any outward pressure is exerted against theouter doors. During the initial outward or unlocking movement of theinner doors, the springs I are extended and tend to pull the outer doorsinward, thus permitting the inner doors to be defiected with littleeffort, which would not be the case if the arrangement were such thatthe outer doors would immediately receive the outward pressure exertedagainst the inner doors. Such outward pressure against the outer doors,by causing the brackets E to move toward each other, would obviouslyincrease the transverse thrust upon the inner doors and require greaterforce to deflect them. In other words by this improved arrangement theouter doors remain closed during the releasing movement of the innerdoors and are not opened until the inner doors come in contacttherewith.

As shown in they drawings, the hingestraps d of the inner doorspreferably extend to the free edges of the latter, so that the opposingstraps abut in the locked position of the doors. This constructioninsures the proper locking of the doors even if the doors themselvesshould warp or shrink.

Various changes and modifications may obviously be made in the form anddetails of the door without departing from the scope and spirit of theinvention, and I do not therefore wish to be limited to the particularconstruction herein shown and described.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination of a boltless door, and a locking brace thereforarranged to normally resist opening of the door from the outside andmovable under outward pressure from the inside to a position to releasethe door, substantially as set forth. I

2. The combination of a boltless outwardly-opening door, and alocking-brace carried by the door, the brace being ar ranged to normallyresist opening of the door, but movable under outward pressure from theinside to a position to release the door, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a door, a swinging locking brace pivoted to theinner side of the door and movable toward and from the same, a partagainst which the free end of the brace abuts when in its normalposition to resist openingof the door from the outside, and means forlimiting the inward movement of the brace, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of a door, a swinging locking brace pivoted to theinner side of the door and movable toward and from the same, a partagainst which the free end of the brace abuts when in its normalposition to resist opening of the door from the outside, and a flexibleconnection between the door and the brace for limiting the inwardmovement of the brace, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of a door, a swinging locking brace pivoted to theinner side of the door and movable toward and from the same, a partagainst which the free end of the brace abuts when in its normalposit-ion to resist opening of the door from the outslde, and a springfor resisting the outward movement of the brace, substantially as setforth.

6. The combination of a door, a swinging locking brace pivoted to theinner side of the door and movable toward and from the same, a partagainst which the free end of the brace abuts when in its normalposition to resist opening of the door from the outside, means forlimiting the inward movement of the brace, and a spring for resistingthe outward movement of the brace, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of a door, a swinging locking brace pivoted to theinner side of the door and movable toward and from the same, a partagainst which the free end of the brace abuts when in its normalposition to resist opening of the door from the outside, and anextensible spring attached at its ends to said brace and the door,substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of a door, a horizontally-swinging locking bracepivoted at its outer end to the inner side of the door and movabletoward and from the same, a part against which the free end of the braceabuts when in its normal position, and a spiral spring attached at oneend to the door and having its other end attached to said brace on theouter side of a line passing through the pivot of the brace and thefirstnamed attaching-point of the spring, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination of a door, a locking brace mounted on the inner sideof the door and movable toward and from the same, a part against whichthe inner edge of the brace normally abuts to resist opening of the doorfrom the outside, and means cooperating with the brace for exerting aninward pull on the door during the releasing move ment of the brace.

10. The combination of a door, a swinging locking brace pivoted to theinner side thereof and movable toward and from the same, a part againstwhich the free inner end of the brace normally abuts to resist openingot the door from the ()llilSlflU, and

means controlled by the brace for exerting an inward pull on the doorduring the deflection of the brace.

11. The combination of a hinged door provided on its inner side near itshinged edge with a bracket, a horizontally-swingmg locking brace hingedat its outer edge to said bracket, and a part against which'the free endof the brace abuts when in its normal position, substantially as setforth.

12. The combination of a hin 'ed main door, a locking-brace in the formof an inner door pivoted to the inner side of the main door, and a partagainst which the free edge of the brace abuts when in its normalposition, to resist opening of the main door from the outside, saidbrace being movable under outward pressure from the inside to a positionto release the main door, substantially as set forth.

13. The combination of a pair of hinged doors, cooperating lockingbraces hinged at their outer ends to the inner sides of the doors, andextensible springs connecting the doors and braces for resisting theoutward movement of the braces and exerting an inward pull on the outerdoors.

14. The combination of a pair of hinged doors, cooperating lockingbraces hinged at their outer ends to the inner sides of the doors, andnormally abutting against each other, means for limiting the inwardmovement of the braces, and extensible springs connecting the doors andbraces.

15. The combination of a pair of hinged doors, brackets secured to theinner sides of the doors near their hinged edges, cooperatinghorizontallyswinglng locking braces pivoted at their outer edges to saidbrackets, the meeting edges of the braces being substantially in linewith the meeting edges of the doors, flexible connections between saidbraces and the doors, and springs connecting the braces withthe'respective doors, substantially as set forth.

16. The combination of a main hinged door, a horizontally-swinginglocking brace in the form of an inner door hinge to.the inner side ofthe main door and spaced therefrom, an upright filling strip closing thespace between the outer edges of said brace and the main door, and apart against which the inner edge of the brace abuts when in its normalposition, substantially as set forth.

17. The combination of a hinged door, a bracket secured to the innerside of the door adjacent to its hinged edge and having a vertical slit,a locking brace in the form of an inner door hinged to said bracket, avertical filling strip arranged in the slit of the bracket and closingthe space between the outer edges of the door and said brace, and

' vertical slit in its'inner face and horizontal grooves in its top andbottom, a locking brace in the form of an inner door hinged to saidbracket, a Vertical filling strip having a recess which receives thebracket, said recess containing a web fitted in the slit of the bracketand provided at its upper and lower edges with tongues which engage saidgrooves, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 8th day of June, 1908. 4

LEROY R. LOUGHBOROUGH.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. AYAK, R. EDWARD GAsKIN.

